Lewis f



`nitizl taten atwt @Him Letters Patent No. 81,585, elated September 1, 1868.

IMPROVED GAN-TOP..

tlge ripml atmet it teiten ntima rtnxi mit linking pct uf tige sans.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, LEWIS F. BETTS, of' the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

- have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Can-Tops; and I do declare that the followingr is a full, clear,

and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this vspeeification,.in whicli- Figure 1 is a top view.

Figure 2, a reverse view.

Figure S, a transverse section.

Figure 7, a transverse section, with vthe portion I3 removed.

Figures 4, 5, 6 represent a modification of the same plan reduced in' size, and adapted t'o oil or other cans i having contracted tops.

Like-letters refer to like parts in all the figures.

The object of my invention is to so construct the tops of cans for fruit and other uses, that the same can be more easily and securely made air-tight. Y

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I proceed to deseribe'its construction Y and operation.

A is the outer portion of the cover, which is to be permanently fastened'to the body of the can in the usual manner. This portion is provided with a shoulder, b, and with two earn-like projections, a, one on cach side of the inner edge, and so arranged that the broad parts are opposite each other. This portion A is cutfrom any suitable metal in the ordinary manner, then stamped in any desired manner, forming the shoulder I); the camlike projections are then turned down, as shown in fig. 7. This portion is also provided with holes or openings, c, to receive the lugs cl.

The central portion of the cover, which is removable, is eut and stamped in the usual manner, and may be of the form shown in iig. 3, being provided with a rim or band, which, when this. portion is in place, rests upon I the shoulder b. It is provided with lugs, d, corresponding in number and position with the openings e. A bar or handle, f, is also attached, the lends oilwhich pass' through the cover and form vthe lugs ci. In use, a ring of rubber, or other suitable material, is laid upon the shoulder b, the lugs CZ are inserted into the top or cover by means of the handleij', thc central portion of the cover B is turned around, and the lugs Z passing under the cam-lil e projections a, the cover is pressed tightly against the rubber, and the can will be air-tight. This Aportion of the cover can at any time be easily reinovedwithout injury, and can be used again and again as long as the can lasts.

I also construct covers forkerosene-oil and other cans, to be used without rubber, operating on the Asame principle as the covers above described," :is shown in figs. 4, 5, 6. That part of this cover or top marked A is provided with cam-like projection, a, as before described, and is to be permanently attached to the can. This part also has openings to receive the lugs d. rI hc removable portion may have the form shown in fig. 6, and isv provided with lugs, d, and handle, f, and the whole is operated in the same manner as the cam-top first described, except that it maybe used without rubber,lthough, if desired, it can be constructed so as to be used with rubber. In this form or modification the handle passes through the curved or bent portion of the top or cover as in the other, so that I am enabled to attach to thin metal, strongly andsecurely, both handle and lugs, and get a sufficient pressure for clamping-purposes without displacing the lugs, which might be the case if they were simply soldercdon to shcctmctaI, thus-making a cheap and ellicient top for air-tight or closed cans.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The inclines or cams a, when burred or turned down so as to form the cam on the edge of the metal of which the breast or permanent portion ofthe top is constructed, and operating substantially as specicd.

2. The handlef, when projecting through the removable top or cover B, so tliat'its ends will form the lugs -or pins d, substantially'as described.

3. 'Ihe permanent portion of the, top or breast A, provided with the cams or inclines a, in combination with the removable portion or cover I3 and lugs or pins d, substantially as and for thc purposes specified.

. LEWIS F, BETTS.

Witnesses:

L.l L. BOND, E. A. WEST. 

